Moisture and vapor separator



Feb. 16 1926.

F. M. FRITTS MOISTURE AND VAPOR SEPARATOR Filed Oct. 27, 1922 frazzczlr 172'. 271223;

Patented Feb. it},

UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS M. FRITI'S, OF COFFEYVILLE, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO L. H.

' STEVENS, OF COFFEYVILLE, KANSAS.

Application filed October 27, 1322.

To all re/10m. it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. Finrrs,

a citizen of the United States, residing at (.lofi'eyville, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ka'nsas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Moisture and Vapor Separators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to moisture and vapor separators of the class adapt-ed to be connected to a well for the purpose of separating the moisture or water from the vapor or gas, so that the latter may be used for heating and lighting purposes; and my object is to provide a simple, inexpensive and eflicient device of this character which is well adapted for the purpose intended.

The device,-generally speaking, embodies a reservoir having an inlet for the water and gas, an outlet for the escape of the dry gas, and a valve-controlled discharge outlet for the water. The valve controlling the discharge outlet is normally held in closed position by its own weight and pressure of the water in the reservoir, but has a float which rises with the water and opens said valve, so that the water in the reservoir can quickly escape, and when the float drops with the escaping water the valve will close. The device also has means for preventing gravel and sediment carried into the reservoir from the well by the pressure of the gas from accumulating around the valve seat and interfering with the operation of the valve.

Other features will hereinafter appear and in order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical central section of one form of the device.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the valve and associated parts.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts disclosed by Fig. l, excepting the float and the lever to which it is connected.

Fig. 4c is a longitudinal. section of another form of the device.

Referring now more particularly to the form disclosed by Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, 2 designates a reservoir which consists in the present instance of a casing 4:, a tubular 7 head Gsecured to the upper end of the easi g an 8 threaded upon the lower MOISTURE AND VAPOR SEPABATOR.

Serial No. 597,412.

end of said casing 4, and plugs 10 and 12 threaded into the tubular head 6.

The water and gas are forced under their own pressure into the reservoir 2 from the well (not shown) through an inlet pipe 141-, the upper portion of which is threaded into the plug 10 from which it extends downwardly into the reservoir 2 for the purpose of retarding the inrushing gas and water, so that when discharged from said pipe ll the gas will flow upwardly and out through the pipe 16, while the water being heavier will flow downwardly into the reservoir -il-. As the dry gas flows upwardly it escapes through an outlet pipe 16 threaded into the plug 12 and extending thence to any suitable polnt.

As the water descends into the reservoir 2 any gravel or coarse sediment liable to in terfere with the proper operation of the valve hereinafter described is arrested by a strainer 18 extending across the reservoir 2 as shown by Fig. 1, the area of said strainer 18 being the same as the interior cross sectional area of said reservoir 2.

2O designates a discharge pipe for carrying off the water to any desired point. The upper end of the discharge pipe 20 extends above the annulus S and has an internal seat for the reception of the valve 22 above referred to and the lower part of which is conical in order to snugly {it within its seat and also guide said valve 22 to said seat after it has been opened The valve 22 is opened by a float 24 through the intermediacy of straight lovers 26 and 28, to the former of which said float 2 1 is connected by a stem 30. The lever 26 is fulcruined at 52, while the lever 28 is fulcrumed at El and connected at one end to the valve 22 by suitable means such pivot 36. The pivots and are mounted in standards 38 and 4.0, respectively, carried by a plate 42 which also carries the discharge pipe 20 and is secured to the annuhis 8, ,to close the same, by suitable means such as screws 44.

Normally the valve 22 is held. to its seat by its own weight augmented by the weight of the water and the lovers 26 and 28, the former of which normally rests its entire length upon the latter as shown by Figs. 1 and 2. As the water in the reservoir 2 rises and carries the first 2% upwa y, he

latter through the intermediacy of the stem 30, raises the long end of the lever .26 as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 2, causing the short end of said lever to press downwardly upon the long end of the lever 28 which in turn raises the valve "32 from its seat. As the water escapes through the discharge pipe 20 the float 24 falls with the .level of the water until the valve '22 is again seated. This intermittent opening of the valve 22 continues as long as water flows into the reservior 2. The debris which accumulates on the strainer l8 may becleaned out from time to time as required on removal otitho .plug 12, while any'sedil'nent which passes through said strainer '18 and accummul'ates at the bottom ofthe reservoircan be removed-by taking oil theplate It will also benotcd that the discharge pi peZOand the valve 22 and its actuating --mechanism are assembled-upon theplate t2 and removable therewith, so thataceess can benreadily had .to the several parts for the purpose of adjustment and repairs.

In the'modified formdisclosed by Hg. 4, both the inlet pipe 14 and the outletpipe lG are threaded into a plug 10%, which in turn is threaded into one end of a tube 50 screwed into a'tubular head 6 which has a tubular clean-out plug 52st its upper por tion. The reservoir 2 is threaded into thetubular head 6 and closed atits lower portion by the annulus 8 and ;plate 42 The plate 4% has a discharge outlet 20 normally closed by the valve 22 which is opened by the levers 26 28 and the float 24 as in the form disclosed by Fig. 1. The pipe 14; is-connected to the well, not shown, and receives the water and gas,'the .former of which being heaviest flows into the reservoir 2 from which it is intermittently drained through the outlet28 by the periodical opening of the valve 22, the gas escaping through the pipe 16 Either form of separator may be mounted upon a pedestal or other suitable support.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided a separator embodying the advantages above pointed out, and while I have shown two forms of said separator,,I reserve the rightto make such. other forms asp roperly fall within the spirit and scope of the claim.

claim: In a moisture and vapor separator, a

casing, a plate sremovably secured to the lower portion of said casing -and,h-aving an outlet .t-he1-'ein,':a valve.arr-anged in said easing ,tonormally close-said outlet astraight lever connected ,to said valve, a second straight lever bearing its entire length against the first one, supporting means for said levers and projecting into the casing from said plate, and a float adapted to be controlled by fluid in thecasing and adapted to open the valve through the intermediacy of-saidlever-s, substantially as shown and described. 7

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANCIS M. FRIT TS. 

